Personal Style

The sun is out! Yay! But how are you finding dressing in lockdown? Has your confidence disappeared as to what to wear and how to still look stylish?

I used to fight my body type when it came to summer. I have no idea why as i know the rules to my body in the winter but when it came to summer I would beat myself up that I wasn’t skinny enough and would feel embarrassed to show off my ‘not so perfect body’.

I was also noticing that my clothes were not up to standard when it came to dressing for work, everything had that holiday vibe or overly relaxed and this was not projecting my business to the degree it needed to.

So last year I took the advice that I would give to myself as a client and I invested in my summer wardrobe with clothes that fit my bodyshape, lifestyle, personality and give me the opportunity to really express my personal brand.

My summer wardrobe now exudes confidence and it’s been built around a few key principles.

I thought I would share my best advice but as I’m writing this in May of 2020 and we are in lockdown.

There are no holidays, no festivals, no summer garden parties. Our summer wardrobe needs are very different, more everyday.

Don’t feel disheartened, i think this is good news.

It’s a time where we don’t have to put our money into dresses we will only wear once and we can actually get the foundations right, really focus in on the items that we will wear time and time again.

If you are intrigued here are my 4 rules for confident summer dressing.

Focus in on good quality basics BUT make sure they are the absolute ideal for your body type

2. Find a colour palate that excites you but most importantly allows you to wear everything in your wardrobe lots of different ways.

3. Step away from the same uniform as everyone else. Find the treasures the unusual pieces. The items that others would overlook.

4. Add the finishing touches, this is what takes an outfit from everyday to cohesive and complete.

If you would like to find out how to do this for your self then come join my next 5 week course.

When?

Style Surgeries: Thursday evening at 7:30pm 11th and 18th June and then

Thursday lunchtime 1pm 25th June, 2nd and 9th July

Guest Speakers will be live in the Facebook Group throughout the 5 weeks.

Why now?

Practically for many, our lifestyles have changed and this is a great time to reassess how our wardrobe supports our life. Let me ask you; do your clothes work for working at home but still keeping your confidence at an all time high?

This is not a time to waste money on clothes that don’t work, with the recent impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on us all, we must shop wisely and learn how to find special over commodity.

The recent uncertainty has left many feeling stuck. Making our emotional wellbeing a focus is key to ensuring we come out of this resilient and strong. Learning the skills of getting dressed everyday is so key to our mental health and ensuring as women we step into the world in our true power.

Finally, being in lockdown may have shined a light on who you get dressed for. Don’t lose the art of being yourself. Come and find it again and let’s be ready as the world starts opening up to us .

A few extra bits…

The amazing thing about doing this over 5 weeks together is that I can guide you through it step by step. If you put the work in, you will get the results, not just the teachings.

We will be looking at style from a very holistic angle, practical advice but with you at the heart of it all.

Through the weekly Style Surgeries we will ensure that you will get the 121 support you need.

All recordings will be sent out to ensure that if you can’t make it live no one will be left behind.

We are proud of the community that is created during our courses and we look forward to having you as part of it.

What clients have said about previous courses:

‘Loulou really helped me to build my confidence in my own style and my ability to find solutions that work for me rather than always be driven by others (instagram, family etc). i have loved this experienvce and will definitely miss our weekly updates and challenges’.

What a 5 weeks indeed. i’m posting this pic as it shows one of my favourite outfits and very far fromn what i would have worn before! its still me…but an upgraded me! Thank you to everyone who commented and helped…you’re all brilliant. This has been a great experience.

I’m feeling so sad this is out last Thursday, it’s been brilliant.

& many more…..

Working with Loulou Storey

Loulou has 20 years experience working in the fashion industry. She prides herself on the fact that everyone is able to have a sense of style and learn how to dress themselves for a happy and successful life.

She has appeared on ITV, featured as a future leader of the fashion industry in Tresemme’s ‘Women who Can’ campaign and regularly speaks on the BBC. She has worked with some of the UK’s largest retailers, most recently with Jigsaw, French Connection and Karen Millen, where she has trained the next generation of stylists and hosted some amazing fashion events with brands like Me&Em and Kitri.

Loulou loves styling for the red carpet and most recently dressed celebrities for events such as the BAFTA’s and the National Television Awards.

Particularly passionate about empowering women through educating them on the power of self-expression, she has styled 100’s of women around the world, to take back control of their wardrobes, find out how to feel good in their clothes and re-inspire them in gorgeous practical clothes. Loulou is a firm advocate that style is therapy and we can all become stronger from looking at how we dress and express ourselves.

Her business The Styling Storey was founded in 2016 after she used clothes as a tool to combat post-natal depression and accepting her own body. She has a personal love of smart casual dressing and helping people to celebrate what it is that makes them unique.

If you are ready to love what you wear, prevent future style and shopping mistakes and define who you are in 2020, then Loulou and her team are ready to help you transform your style!

Bored with your wardrobe, feel so lacklustre towards it??
Then check out this video.

A back to basics video that gives you 3 creative and unexpected ways to get you from ‘blah’ to ‘oooomph’.

This video is perfect for you if you want to start playing with what you’ve got before buying new clothes.

To summerise:

1. Move your clothes around and find the hidden gems.
2. Use something around your house or an unworn accessory to get inspired with a new colour palate.
3. Start dreaming, get out of a funk by looking at where your going to take your style.

Let me know in the comments where your at with clothes and wardrobe? Completely disengaged? Trying but stuck? Shopping like crazy? Loving experimenting? Realising you need a complete overhaul? Feeling like you shouldn’t be thinking about it as bigger issues going on. I want to hear!

Let me ask you a question. What did your lack of confidence with your style stop you doing last year and is this year going to be the same as last year??

If you are in a frustrated and disappointing place with your style but not sure how to do things differently, please don’t give up hope. It may feel overwhelming but by just actioning these first 4 steps you will start to become aware of where you need to build your knowledge,

Support and Knowledge: If clothes, style and wardrobe management are not your area of expertise, don’t beat yourself up over it. Asking for support, finding the experts out there and the resources that they have on offer is an important first step. (If you are reading this then you are on the right track!). Asking and seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of, you don’t know what you don’t know. Check out 10 Secrets that will help you feel like you have a new wardrobe.

Have a good mirror: I cannot tell you how many clients I work with have no way of truly seeing what their outfits look like. It can be painful to look at your appearance when its not what you want to see but for you to transform the way you look you have to take an honest appraisal of where you are at right now. How do you know what you look like, what works, what is flattering if you can’t see your reflection (in decent light)… i’ll leave it at that!

Take a daily photo: It can be very difficult to look at ourselves objectively. We are always staring at the bit we hate or feels out of proportion. A photo is a far better way to see if an outfit works. It will also help you to keep a record of the good outfits so on those tired and uninspired days you can go back and check the photo and repeat.

Allow yourself the time to think and plan: I see time and time again women feeling guilty about spending time on planning and looking after their style. They feel the time is frivolous, unproductive, vain and despite knowing how good they feel in the right outfit they carry a lot of guilt about it. Effortless style does not exist and the thinking, whether in small chunks or in big blocks, once it happens will make everyday dressing so much easier.

If you found this interesting, then try them out but it doesn’t have to end here. This is just the first step to success. For the next step we’ve created the ‘Transform your Personal Style’ Course.

If you have you ever wondered what your style would be like if you worked with a stylist.

Or

If you are you in an endless cycle of wearing the clothes that are heaped at the top of the pile

Or

If you feel ashamed and embarrassed about your appearance and secretly you know its holding you back?

Or

If you want this year to be the year that you really know how to dress and express YOU then this course is for you.

After 20 years in the industry and working with 1000’s of women and years of planning and learning I am ready to teach you. This course will be a fully immersive experience and myself and the whole team will be there to guide you to your confident style destination.

Each week we will meet and we will take you step by step what you need to do to transform your style. To dress and express yourself and most importantly function in your day to day life.

Do you have dreams of becoming a stylist?

Do you love dressing yourself and wondering if you could do the same for others?

Are you a stylist but struggling to find clients?

Perhaps you want to radically lift the standard of your own dressing by learning all the inside stylist tricks and tips and become more visible?

After 20 years in the industry there are 3 things I’d recommend you do to be a successful stylist:

Research : It’s important that you are put to date on what is in fashion and what is going on in the wider industry. Be up to date on the clothes in the shops, know unusual brands and be aware of the challenges of your clients and therefore the brands that would serve them best. Read the latest books on style and fashion (or try and get them at the Library if you are just starting out). Know what has been said in the past and create a stance on where you would like the industry to go.

Be aware of the emotional needs of your client. Don’t get caught into the trap of just focusing on body shape and colouring. Take a step back and really think about where the client is emotionally and how she wants to feel on a day to day basis. How can you help her make the leap to being more confident and belief in herself?

You have to look good, not just your client. You may be good at dressing others but you mustn’t forget about your own brand. If you are starting out focus in on 3 or 4 great outfits that truly represent you. Make sure your style is authentic to you but is a look you can grow into and will attract your ideal future client.

Would you like to do an online styling workshop?

This masterclass has ended, sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear when it’s on next

For 3 hours become immersed in all things style and business. Learn Loulou’s unique method of working and how to ensure every client you work with walks away dying to give you a blossoming testimonial, thanking you for how you’ve turned their life around.

This is a one off opportunity to find out the secrets to Loulou’s method that she has developed over the last 20 years in the industry. She will share her insight and experience that has got her to build a successful Style Coaching business on to ITV and the BBC, allowed her to work with some of the UK’s top brands such as Me&Em and Karen Millen.

Workshop is £275 but we have 10 Early Bird tickets available at £150 until 14th October (at time of writing we had 4 left).

The 3 hour workshop will be broken down into:

– Fundamentals of Style : How to style every figure, lifestyle and colouring.

– Loulou Storey Styling Method so every client walks away with confidence and a raving testimonial.

– How to be a top stylist: Ensure your look and social is on brand and you have a financially thriving business.

– Innovative, expressive and on trend outfitting ideas for you and your client.

– Live Q & A to solve all your style and business challenges.

NB IF YOU CANT MAKE IT LIVE ON THE DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CATCH UP AS ALL RECORDINGS WILL BE SENT OUT

Here is that link again to the workshop.

***This masterclass has ended, sign up to the mailing list to be the first to hear when it’s on next ***

When it comes to British weather, there is no denying we have many rain days to contend with, so here’s my guide on how to look stylish and still express you even when the heavens pour down.

My Top Tips on how to keep rainwear interesting.

Best 5 Styles to look for Trench / Cape / Parka / Quilted / Rain mac.

Just because it’s practical doesn’t mean it has to be boring!

Do I really need to say but keep it rain proof, check that it is suitable for the rain.

Embrace colour, print and texture, whether that is a matt or a high shine finish. It’s a rainy dark day, why not use it as a way to brighten your day and add interest to your outfit rather than just cover up and hide.

Layer, layer, layer: hooded tops under coats that don’t have a hood or capes over blazers for maximum coverage and outfit interest.

Synthetic shoes and rubber soles are actually a better choice than leather which is porous, or alternatively look out for some rather cool weather proof shoes.

Inspirational Looks

TRENCH Vogue : How to dress for rain

CAPE

QUILTED

RAIN MAC

My top rain buys to still stay stylish (just click on the photo to go through to site!)

It’s all very well seeing inspiring images, you need to find places to buy them. Here are my suggestions and do also check out the suggestions of other practical brands I regularly recommend to my clients.

Other Practical Brands to have on your radar when buying rainwear

Rain wear specialists

Brands with Practical DNA

Have fun with your style, express you and lift your mood with your clothes no matter what the weather!

If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then my upcoming 5 week online style course is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.

The 3 power pieces to own in your work wardrobe

Did you know that by 2020 50% of people will work remotely.

The world of work is changing.

Learning the art of smart casual, the art of dressing down to dress up is at the heart of it.

The uniform of black and navy suits is reserved to a smaller working elite but I truly believe that we need to still get dressed everyday to be successful. Polish and refinement even when you are more casual. The greater challenge to express yourself but it ‘s very exciting that you can have fun with your clothes and not be confined to a boring uniform.

Read below to see the 3 pieces every modern women should own, plus street style inspiration to ensure you turn up as a leader and an authority everyday.

Pro Tip: Use the street style inspiration photos to start a pinterest board of your own of favourite looks you’d like to emulate.

1. The Wow Suit

No more plain black or navy suits, the wow suit is the modern professional’s hardest working item in their wardrobe.

The wow element can come from a great colour, a intesresting tailoring detail like a pleat or a belt and also pattern. Spots, check’s and florals are all great.

Don’t underestimate the power that can come from classic suit fabrics like a herringbone in a modern cut with wide, cropped trousers.

Pair with: Keep the base layer simple with a silk or lace cami, basic t-shirt or classic white shirt and let the suit do the talking.

Pro Tip: Wear them together for ultimate wow or use them everyday with your basics to ensure your style always has that modern polish.

Street Style inspiration

What to buy

Matériel Belted Jacquard Suit

& other Stories Belted Kick Flare Suit

The Fold Almeida Suit

Zara Pinstripe double breasted Suit *At time of publication trousers still to be launched

Suit Supply Cameron 4 Button Check suit

2. 24/7 dress

The dress that will take you everywhere, in every season, for every event.

A 24/7 dress will be the item that will fix your style woes. it will be the item that exudes effortless and timelessness – Enough detail to make it interesting but not date. The key to signalling assuredness and expressing you is the fit.

The 24/7 dress will embrace you fully, highlight the bits you love and boost your daily confidence and if you find the right length (it hits the narrowest part of your leg) can be worn with flats.

Luckily for you the dress is having an absolute moment so there is something for everyone.

Pair with: Knee high boots are going to be A/W 2019 go to shoe.

Pro Tip: Make friends with a tailor to ensure that you achieve that made to measure look and why not try unbuttoning that shirt dress and wear it open over some trousers to give it an updated look.

Street Style Inspiration

What to buy

Hobbs Blue Diana Dress

Cos Asymmetric Dress

Baujken Aubrey Dress

Paul Smith Off leopard Dress

Karen Millen Snake Print Wrap dress

Reiss Slim Fit Dress

3. Your Best Coloured Silk Blouse

A coloured silk blouse is the perfect hump day item to own in your wardrobe. If you are feeling tired and your skin needs a lift, put on the blouse in the colour that suits you best. Unsure of what colours suit you then notice what colours you are wearing when you get compliments or look in a mirror and notice what colours bring your skin to life.

They are perfect if you are working from home and still want to feel elevated but relaxed, they are even better when you’ve had a late night!

Pair with: Jeans and sock boot or a suit in the same colour to make some real impact.

Pro Tip: Have fun with colours in the same colour but different tones to show you have real creative flair.

Street Style Inspiration

What to buy

Vince Limonatta Satin Short Sleeve

& other stories straight fit silk shirt

WTR Dulcie Long Split Sleeve

Arket Satin Zip Top

Relaxed Lustrous Shirt

Final Thought

Use your clothes at the office/workplace or working from home as way to get your mind in the right frame of mind for the day ahead. Notice which clothes and which colours help you to be more productive and notice what the response is from those around you.

Use your clothes as a way to communicate your ambition and most importantly plan your outfit the night before, don’t leave it up to chance.

My blog is a place for you to grow your confidence with what to wear and ensure you know how to communicate YOU.

Styling within the workplace has become a growing focus of mine as I help more and more women know how to dress for the 9to5 style and curate looks that work in their workplace, at home and out at meetings. To help you in your quest for the ideal work attire and to ensure you make the very best impression at work, I’ve put together this article, originally shared with Business Studio London on how to have an adventure with your style

Would you like to enjoy the process of getting dressed everyday?

Why not come on a style adventure with me. Try out these tips in your dressing and outfitting to fall in love with your style and ensure that this year is your most successful and fulfilling.

The old rules of workwear style are softening and whether you love it or hate it your day to day can have a lot more variety. Rather than feel overwhelmed, let me guide you through how to have your own adventure with your clothes this year.

1. ASK THE KEY QUESTION

The absolute non-negotiable question before choosing your outfit the night before work or a big event is ‘what energy do I want to bring to the room tomorrow’. Are you there to disrupt, blend or support your brand?

Consider it and let your clothes do the talking before you do.2. ADD A MULTICOLOURED JACKET

This is probably one of my most recommended bits of advice for many reasons. The perfect way to instantly perk up your wardrobe, modernise your classic suiting and ensure your personality comes through everyday. Tweeds and checks are obvious go-to’s and the options go from classic to wild to modern.

Sandro Check Jacket

The Fold Tweed Jacket

& other stories plaid coat

3. FEEL YOUR BEST

Don’t forget about how clothes feel on your skin. What makes you feel best? For a lot of my clients switching out their classic white or cream blouses for a flattering toned silk blouse can ensure that their skin is lifted and less tired looking after a long week, it also feels so much better against the skin. A little touch of luxury goes a long way and really will update a pair of jeans for you at the weekend.

Vince rust silk blouse

Hobbs silk blouse

Jigsaw silk blouse

4. SECRETLY SPICE IT UP

Life can feel a little monotonous at times and a sure fire way to add some adventure into your day to day is to connect with our sassy, naughty side. Wearing your raciest underwear on a dark and miserable morning, will put a spring in everyone’s step. No one needs to know, this is for you!

Dita von teese for Figleaves

5. SET YOURSELF A STYLE CHALLENGE

Having a wardrobe full of clothes you wear in multiple different ways, is the true marker of successful style. No item left to gather dust, everything loved and worn in multiple ways.

This week choose one unloved item and challenge yourself on how many different ways you can wear it.

How can you make it feel more casual? Smarter? More modern? What would be an unexpected colour to pair with it? What’s the opposite thing you could pair it with?

Get creative and have a play with what you own, there’s a winning outfit waiting to be found.

6. GO TONAL

Colour; knowing your colours and playing with them is a very enriching way to dress. Seen on the catwalk at Max Mara, Tonal dressing is all about wearing multiple tones of the same colour. You can keep the silhouettes classic and let the colour do the talking.

I’ve offered you a more feminine and more androgynous option here with pinks/aubergine tones but it works just as well with any other colour palate.

Feminine

Theory blush coat

Racil silk blouse

Karen Millen aubergine skirt

LK Bennett Nude rose boots

LK Bennet mulberry bag

Androgynous

Hobbs Pink Coat

Helen Moore Faux fur tippet

Hobbs Damson polo neck

Jigsaw velvet trousers

Hobbs raspberry loafers

Russell and Bromley Shopper

7. ADD SOME PLAYFUL TOUCHES.

Keep it sophisticated and elegant but let your accessories lift your classic suits and simple separates. Add colours you love, prints that get you excited, cheeky touches and unexpected textures like faux snakeskin.

Ganni snake print shoes

Anthropologie agate drop earring

Bella Singleton silk scarf

Lulu Guiness Green Bag

The key style resolution I would encourage you all to have this year, is to go on an adventure with what you wear. Buy less, buy better, buy what you truly love and most importantly get creative!

For you to feel fully confident in your appearance this year it is important to take a moment to review where you are at and where you want to be with your style.

As a Style Coach, I work with women to ask the important questions to really ensure that the transformation of our wardrobes really represents who you are.

Here are the 5 most impactful questions to ask:

What’s the one thing that frustrates me most about getting dressed in the morning?

This is a big question. We are all short of time and making our routine as efficient as possible is key. Is it as simple as you don’t have a full length mirror in your room so you are always guessing whether your outfit works? Are you too tired first thing to decide? Is your wardrobe a mess and you don’t dare go in, you just pick up the clothes off the top of the pile?

Do I feel empowered in the underwear I wear everyday?

I encourage my clients to get the foundations right. 80% of women wear the wrong size bra. Its pointless having clothes that make you feel and look good if you have pants that are falling apart or your wearing a bra that is 10 years old. It will also massively impact the appearance of your clothes.

What do I spend my money on?

Looking at your shopping habits is important. Are you a little and often person? Or perhaps you are a never shop person? Maybe you go shopping once a year and invest in great clothes but you just replace what you’ve been wearing, never truly evolving your style?

Where do I want to be professionally within 6 months?

This is key. We have to start learning how to dress for the person we are evolving into, not he person we were last year. We evolve as human beings and our identity is often lost when we haven’t brought our style up to date.

How would you like people to describe you?

Perception is important. Lets not pretend that people don’t judge us when we walk in the room. This question will help guide you in how you want your style to be? Effortless. Stylish. Glamorous. Powerful. Unique. Contemporary. This helps us navigate what is important outcome of your style as we put together a look that works for you.

I work with women to do wardrobe reviews, developing your signature style and personal shopping. Coaching is integrated into all the services I provide to ensure that questions like the ones above are answered so that we can transform the way you get dressed everyday. Find out more about my services.

If you’d like to learn more about reigniting your personal style, getting clarity on what works for YOU, exuding inner confidence and make getting dressed everyday effortless, then my upcoming 5 week online style course starting 1st February is for you. Click here to find out more and start your personal style transformation.

After working with Triumph lingerie and seeing how a brand passionate about underwear is passionate about boosting a womens confidence, I realised it was time for me to pull together a list of all the mistakes I repeatedly see and the solutions you can use to boost your confidence with your underwear.

Underwear is a real opportunity for lifting the standard of your style and your wardrobe, boosting your inner confidence and helping you to feel in control of your style and your identity. Most women live in the same couple of bras day in day out that they’ve been wearing for the last few years, missing the opportunity to use it to feel more confident.

Below are the 5 most common mistakes and how to solve them.

Mistake 1: Ignoring the importance of underwear

Solution 1: Take the time to prioritise it. Follow the solutions below but start by putting aside 10 minutes to organise your underwear drawer. I recommend to all my clients ahead of our time together that they take a look at Marie Kondo’s guide to organising your underwear drawer.

Mistake 2: Not assessing whether underwear still fits

Solution 2: Look in the mirror & ask yourself

Could your breasts sit higher with a better fitting bra?

Do the straps need tightening, have they loosened with wear?

Are there any gaps, does the wire or central part sit away from the skin?

Are your breasts bulging over the top/sides?

Do your breasts fill the cups?

Does the back arc up?

Does the bra leave indentations in the shoulders?

If the answer is yes to any of this, then seek professional help. Head to your local department store or lingerie specialist.

Mistake 3: Failing to shop around

Solution 3: If you’ve grown up in the UK, M&S is where we were all taken for our first bra. I see that so many of my clients stay loyal to the brand. As much as I love M&S, there is so much more on offer and its definitely worth getting different view points and finding if there is a bra out there that fits better

Mistake 4: Not owning the underwear essentials

Sports Bra

Nude seamless bra

French Knickers

Seamless Knicker

Uniqlo Seamless Knicker

Silk Camisole

Intimissimi Silk Camisole

Mistake 5: Not using underwear as a way of increasing inner confidence

Solution 5: Wearing the right underwear can help your clothes hang properly, help you to look polished and professional and help you enhance your figure. However, underwear is a great tool for increasing inner confidence. Wear it to feel a little rebellious, to hold yourself to a higher standard or perhaps you need just a touch of luxury in your life.

Have a think about how you could prioritise underwear today and see how it can make a difference to your daily life.

For more of my style advice come over to Instagram, for #louloustylelessons

Summer dressing can be a challenge for us Brits, we are better practised at adding a blazer, living in our jeans and stomping around in boots. than floating around in a pretty dresses.

So many clients bring out the same summer clothes year after year which have dated and no longer express who they are but with summer normally so fleeting, investing in a decent summer wardrobe seems pointless.

However when we are dressing in fewer items, in pieces that are outdated summer can be a real time where we loose our sense of identity and forget how to express our personality and qualities.

If you want to get out of those skinny jeans or denim cut offs then consider adding these items into your working summer wardrobe and put your stamp on summer!

1. Printed Wrap Skirt

This is the one seasonal update piece I’m going to recommend on this post. Think spots, florals, stripes, leopard print. In fact whatever fits with your style personality. This skirt is having a real moment. Watch out for the wind though, consider adding a popper to keep it from opening, going up a size so you can wrap it more or adding a pair of cycling shorts under like these Sloggi ones.